Assam Politics & Governance

Cabinet Approves ₹455 Crore for Schools

1 January 2026

The Assam Cabinet approved ₹455 crore for constructing 100 schools at its first meeting of 2026. It also granted revised administrative approval of ₹1,201.16 crore for a medical college and an 800-bed general hospital around the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital and Kalapahar campuses. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decisions after the meeting.

Notable Points

• MMCH namesake: Mahendra Mohan Choudhury served as Chief Minister during 1970-72 and later as Governor of Punjab.
• Cultural connection: Choudhury helped establish the Saint Sankaradeva Chair at Punjabi University, Patiala.
• Medical-education history: Gauhati Medical College was established on 20 September 1960 as Assam’s second medical college.

Sivasagar Trial Tests Net Fencing Against Monkeys

1 January 2026

A three-month trial involving ten farmers in Dikhmukh, Sivasagar, tested plastic net fencing against monkey damage to rabi crops. Nets supported on poles six to ten feet high kept monkeys outside the enclosed plots during the experiment. Prabal Saikia of the North Lakhimpur Regional Research Station organised the trial with Hiren Dutta. Farmers sought assistance for netting and improved seeds.

Notable Points

• Research programme: The experiment was conducted under the ICAR-ANIP programme on vertebrate pest management.
• Intervention: The netting used physical exclusion rather than poisoning or killing the crop-raiding animals.

₹2.9-Crore Film GST Transfer Announced

1 January 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a ₹2.9 crore transfer to the Kalaguru Foundation, established by Zubeen Garg. The amount represents state GST collected from the film Roi Roi Binale. The transfer was planned for January 2026.

Notable Points

• Film title: Roi Roi Binale takes its name from a song on Zubeen Garg’s 1998 album Sobdo.
• Kalaguru: The cultural epithet by which Bishnu Prasad Rabha is widely known; his death anniversary is observed on 20 June.
• SGST component: The announced contribution concerned state GST receipts; it was separate from the film’s gross box-office collections.

Eighth Assam Pay Commission Announced

1 January 2026

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an Eighth Assam Pay Commission, to be chaired by former additional chief secretary Subhash Das. He announced that the new pay policy would apply from 1 January 2026, including to newly appointed employees.

Notable Points

• State pay structure: The Seventh Assam Pay Commission favoured retaining grade pay with modifications rather than adopting the central pay matrix.
• Institutional role: A state pay commission submits recommendations; the government subsequently decides the applicable pay rules.

₹8,000 Arunodoi Payment Announced for February

1 January 2026

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that Arunodoi beneficiaries would receive ₹8,000 together on 20 February. He said there would be no Arunodoi payment in January. The announcement was made during his New Year’s Day interaction.

Notable Points

• Programme design: Arunodoi was introduced in 2020 with household assistance channelled through an eligible woman beneficiary.
• Original assistance basket: Medicines, pulses, sugar, fruits and vegetables were identified as household needs within the original design.
• Payment interpretation: The ₹8,000 announcement was a consolidated payment; the report did not specify its coverage period or establish a new monthly rate.

Eviction Operation Begins in Hojai Forest

2 January 2026

Hojai district administration began an eviction operation on 2 January in the encroached Jamuna-Mou Dongha forest, using bulldozers and workers. The district commissioner said the operation was divided into five sections and that many families had left after receiving notices. The administration said the drive would continue the following day if it was not completed. The commissioner also said 152 families had filed petitions in the High Court and that action concerning them would follow the court’s directions.

Notable Points

• District formation: Hojai was formed in 2015 from Nagaon’s Hojai, Doboka and Lanka tehsils.
• Administrative changes: It was temporarily merged with Nagaon in December 2022 and had its district status restored in August 2023.
• Judicial proceedings: The administration stated that action concerning the 152 petitioning families would follow the High Court’s directions.

Monthly Assistance Launched for Udasin Bhakats

2 January 2026

Assam launched monthly assistance of ₹1,500 for 620 udasin bhakats of recognised satras at a ceremony in Dispur on 2 January. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handed out cheques to launch the programme. Beneficiaries come from Barpeta, Jorhat, Majuli and Kamrup (Metropolitan). ...